The magnitude 7.0 quake -- the most powerful to hit Haiti in a century -- struck shortly before 5 p.m. and was centered about 10 miles (15 kilometers) southwest of Port-au-Prince, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. It could be felt strongly in eastern Cuba, more than 200 miles away, witnesses said.
A friend of Kristin and Jonathan's is a doctor - he took a crew down to Haiti to help out. It's amazing the out-pouring this poor country has received and it's just seems not enough still. Countries all over the world are sending relief, doctors, support, everything they can to help these people recover. I hope the help continues even after time goes by so they can rebuild. What a blessing the Saints of the LDS church are - they are so grateful and accommodating to those who are coming to help them. I'm touched by their out-pouring of love and welcome attitude to complete strangers from a foreign country. - alison
Another note from Chuck - what a blessing it's been for them to share their medical skills. Prayers for the people of Haiti and those serving them.
Love,
Kristin
----- Original Message -----
From: Gayla Peterson
To: Gayla
Sent: Saturday, January 23, 2010 8:43 PM
Subject: Haiti - Friday's News
I just got this message today. It's about yesterday (Friday). They managed to get a flight out of Haiti today on an Air Force Plane They are staying the night in Orlando and flying home tomorrow (Sunday). Chuck gets in at about 5:00pm. I'm so happy!
We are sleeping on the tarmac at the Port-au-Prince Airport. Not too much more I could say... We were evacuated - it felt literal - from Leogane this morning at about 10. We had just enough time to talk to the Bishop and pass along a bunch of money. Say goodbye to all of our friends from Bavaria, Cuba and Menonite - I know its not a country. We had just given the cubans all of our supplies in anticipation of having to get out quick with the helis and then Tim Mooney and Stan Phillips showed up with the helicopters. They are in for an adventure! We took a few minutes to orient them.
Just like everything else we have experienced here there were a number of small miracles that took place. Everything that the ward in Leogane has done for us to make us comfortable and safe. For instance, Frere Eddy has been our driver and computer provider and good friend for the past week. I really wanted to make sure that he knew that Stan and Tim were here and he was needed to pick them up tonight, etc., etc. I had just asked the young man from the ward that Bishop Pierre-Louis had assigned to us for the day, to go and let everyone (Bishop/Frere Eddy) know that there were guys there to replace us and they needed the same help and voila! Frere Eddy shows up.
We are sleeping on the tarmac at the Port-au-Prince Airport. Not too much more I could say... We were evacuated - it felt literal - from Leogane this morning at about 10. We had just enough time to talk to the Bishop and pass along a bunch of money. Say goodbye to all of our friends from Bavaria, Cuba and Menonite - I know its not a country. We had just given the cubans all of our supplies in anticipation of having to get out quick with the helis and then Tim Mooney and Stan Phillips showed up with the helicopters. They are in for an adventure! We took a few minutes to orient them.
Just like everything else we have experienced here there were a number of small miracles that took place. Everything that the ward in Leogane has done for us to make us comfortable and safe. For instance, Frere Eddy has been our driver and computer provider and good friend for the past week. I really wanted to make sure that he knew that Stan and Tim were here and he was needed to pick them up tonight, etc., etc. I had just asked the young man from the ward that Bishop Pierre-Louis had assigned to us for the day, to go and let everyone (Bishop/Frere Eddy) know that there were guys there to replace us and they needed the same help and voila! Frere Eddy shows up.
The helis dropped us off at the heli landing zone at the @ Port-au-Prince airport, in other words the tarmac. I broke down a bit on the helicopter ride out because I am so grateful for the opportunity we have had to be here and help a few people. This has been such an incredible experience. Seeing the growth and maturity of the church has been extremely satisfying. Chuck gave one of his classic analogies. When he was Branch Pres in Leogane 20 years ago they planted a little mango tree in the front part of the grounds by the chapel. Now that is a beautiful 30+ foot Mango tree with 100s of mangos (unfortunately not yet ripe). That summarizes the growth we witnessed and were blessed by. I had to catch myself the other night when I met the Stake President. I thought he was a young man looking for church activities and then I met the mission president who looked even youger than his missionaries! I almost congratulated them on how self-sufficient the church is here. How there are no foreign missionaries (and there hasn't been for some time). They don't need us and its awesome and then I quickly realized that that was about me and the fact is it is about the church, that is the way Our Heavenly Father wants for things to go! He just needs good people to live the gospel and he will make it all work regardless of the place or the circumstances. There are huge military transports landing and taking off every half hour or so. And there are tons of pallets and supplies here at the airport- I hope they start to make it out to where they are most needed. The airport is a little city all by itself.
After a few hours hanging here with Arthur Brice and Chris Roberts from cnn - yes we talked and yes they said they were going to do a story on us - they were waiting while their photographer went for a helicopter ride with Jeremy. Anyway, after just sitting here the choppers took us over to an orphanage - House of God Orphanage I think its called. The doc from the orphanage flew down with us to Santo Domingo. They are buzzing right now because there is a good chance the kids will all be able to get out soon. In fact I just overheard one of the guys talking abt all of us flying out tomorrow with the orphans in a military transport leaving around noon?! the orphanage was a blast. We just sat with the nannies and the kids came and jumped all over us. Gary has never been so worked over. He had a child on each knee one on his left shoulder and a cute little girl that combed every hair on his head. We had fun talking with the nannies. They have seen a lot of white people - adoptive families -but this is the first time they have seen white people speak their language. Most of the kids are spoken for, but it sure was hard to pry them off of us and return here to the airport.
Please pray that we can get a few hrs sleep tonight and please continue to pray for us to make it home soon! We can feel those prayers very easily and know that they have been answered to allow us just a little time away to help these incredible people. Hope to see you soon!
Craig, Gary, Steve and Chuck
Craig, Gary, Steve and Chuck
Text message from Chuck today: Just landed in Orlando on an AirForce transport with 83 orphans, total 193 people, most of us on the floor. Like Noah's ark.
From Dad: Thanks for sharing these wonderful messages. We don't know how well off we are until we read something like this and it certainly makes the pain and suffering real. We made a donation through the Church's website to help in this effort. It is wonderful to hear of so many dedicated people--doctors, nurses, construction, etc.--take time from their families and life at home to go spend time helping the people and the country get back up and functioning again.
love,
mom and dad
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